Students who have been living in Algonquin College’s residence since September are being asked to vacate by noon on Sunday. Only residents who have been accepted into the spring term are allowed to stay. Denzel Herrero, a receptionist for residence, said over 800 people are vacating residence before Sunday. “There’s usually about a thousand residents […]
Anthony Peck
Photos: Anthony Peck
April 20, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Anthony Peck
Students were seen hauling luggage to their cars on Thursday.
Students who have been living in Algonquin College’s residence since September are being asked to vacate by noon on Sunday.
Only residents who have been accepted into the spring term are allowed to stay.
Denzel Herrero, a receptionist for residence, said over 800 people are vacating residence before Sunday.
“There’s usually about a thousand residents each year,” Herrero added.
Residence will see 200 new faces for the spring term, bringing the total number of occupants until September to 350.
Emails were sent to students’ personal accounts on April 5 reminding them to select a move-out date and sort out moving details before the deadline. Residence is unable to accommodate any late-stayers due to preparations for summer accommodations, which include transforming dorms into hotel rooms.
Many students looked back on their seven-month stay with praise for the college.
Madison Fourney, who’s in the culinary management program and has stayed at residence since September, appreciated the services residence provided during her stay.
“I really liked the rooms. The rooms were nice and big, and I liked having the residence café inside the residence,” Fourney said. “It was really convenient to just go pick up dinner.”
The sentiment was shared by fellow student Jack Ferguson studying computer programming. Ferguson made the move to residence because it’s close to the college campus, eliminating travel time to school.
“I live like 20 or 30 minutes away and it’s just more convenient to go to class from here,” Ferguson said.
The cost of living in residence is expected to increase for the 2023-2024 academic year.
For a regular meal plan plus residence fees, residents paid $11,862 last fall. This fall, the same meal plan option will cost $12,256, the premium meal plan plus fees are increasing by $431 and the light plan plus fees are jumping by $350.
Students staying in residence for their first year are required to purchase any one of the three meal plans.
Students gathered at the Ishkodowean Courtyard on Thursday afternoon to enjoy the warmth of the winter term’s last “social fire,” which was held once a month. “With the social fire, the goal is to really get people talking to one another and get people to meet each other regardless if their Indigenous or not, students, […]
Zaynab Safa
Photos:
April 20, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Students sat around the fire to keep warm during a chilly Thursday afternoon
Students gathered at the Ishkodowean Courtyard on Thursday afternoon to enjoy the warmth of the winter term’s last “social fire,” which was held once a month.
“With the social fire, the goal is to really get people talking to one another and get people to meet each other regardless if their Indigenous or not, students, staffs, everyone is welcomed,” said Summer Wabasse, events and communication officer at the Mamidosewin Centre.
Students were relaxing in the courtyard during the social fire, eating snacks and drinking beverages while basking in the warmth of the fire.
“I enjoy being in this kind of environment and hearing other people chat. Sometimes if I hear an interesting conversation happening ill join in — makes this place feel like a safe place,” said Laura Thompson, a veterinary technician program student.
The college’s website says the Mamidosewin Centre’s goal is to empower and assist Indigenous students as they go on to the next stage of their lives in a way that is respectful of and reflective of Indigenous cultures.
“The Mamidosewin Centre has a lot of events and I always keep an eye out on them. I think they do really good events always,” said Meg Weckwerth, a veterinary technician program student.
The Mamidosewin Centre promotes social interaction by bringing people together and by encouraging students to chat with others. Wabasse kept an eye out on the fire to make sure whether it needed more wood or not.
“This is a nice way to be in community with people that you might not necessarily ever interact with. We’re all doing different things but yet sharing the same space,” said Emma Halchuk, a veterinary technician program student.
Facilities Management is evaluating what to do with the old gymnasium, which usually stays closed. Before the completion of the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre, the gymnasium in A-Building was used for student recreation, various academic activities and a court for the Wolves to practice. After the construction of the ARC, the space is […]
Noah Simmons
Photos: Noah Simmons
April 20, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Noah Simmons
The gymnasium is A-building is closed.
Facilities Management is evaluating what to do with the old gymnasium, which usually stays closed.
Before the completion of the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre, the gymnasium in A-Building was used for student recreation, various academic activities and a court for the Wolves to practice.
After the construction of the ARC, the space is still being used. But for what?
“I believe there was a job fair over one weekend this semester,” said Ryan Southwood, executive director of Facilities Management at the college, in an email. “We are not currently renting it out to external organizations.”
The college has no plans to re-purpose the gym. Renovations also aren’t likely.
“We will be looking at what opportunities this space offers us as part of the Master Campus Development Plan this fiscal year,” said Southwood.
The campus development plan is on the college’s website. The plan was completed in 2015 and was supposed to be updated in 2020 but faced a delay due to the pandemic.
According to Southwood, the college needs a solid business case to renovate a space that large and nothing has presented itself so far.
However, one program has its eye on the space.
“We aren’t currently using it but would like to use it in the future,” said Dana Lennox, a program coordinator for police foundations. He is unsure of when it will become available to trainees.
The academic chair of the police and public health institute, Dominique Germain, declined to comment as the gym’s future is unknown.
So who’s in there right now?
“Music and Movement still uses the gym,” according to Lynda Martin, program coordinator of early childhood education.
Music and Movement Experiences for Children is part of the early childhood education program. It has students actively exploring the pedagogical value of music and movement experiences in early learning settings.
Firefighting drones. Smart armour. Mic blockers. It all sounds like stuff out of a movie, but they were very real at RE/ACTION last week. This event allowed students to share ideas, network, possibly build a client base, gain access to video presentation skills and pitch session workshops. It gave students an opportunity to have potential […]
Noah Simmons
Photos: Noah Simmons
April 20, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Noah Simmons
Ahmed Ibrahim, Huanan Qiao, Ehsan Noei and Chris Pinera showcasing the firefighter robot at table 44.
Firefighting drones. Smart armour. Mic blockers. It all sounds like stuff out of a movie, but they were very real at RE/ACTION last week.
This event allowed students to share ideas, network, possibly build a client base, gain access to video presentation skills and pitch session workshops.
It gave students an opportunity to have potential media coverage and receive feedback from industry professionals. The event was organized by Algonquin’s Office of Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Students let faculty, Ottawa-based companies and other students come down to the first floor of C-building to have a look at their products on April 14.
It was also a chance for local companies to scout fresh talent and examine students’ skills.
People zig-zagged around the tables and inquired about the innovations that students had tirelessly researched and developed throughout the academic year.
One was the “Firefighter Robot” designed by Eshan Noei, Huanan Qiao, Chris Pinera and Ahmed Ibrahim.
The robot is controlled manually and has two micro-controllers, which are super small computers. One of them is a tiny camera module that assists with manual control through a laptop. It could also be controlled through a phone, tablet or any device with an internet connection.
“You can go into a dangerous area and it can send you a video livestream or information to any kind of sensor that you connect to,” Noei said.
But this robot has a trademark: an automated feature which comes through a thermal sensor. It connects the sensor to those super small computers. Then, they process the sensor and adjust the robot to find the heat and spray it with water.
Most people will call it a heat sensor, but Noei prefers to think of it as a “heat follower.” He believes there is room to improve this project. For now, it’s a firefighter robot, but it can be applied on a bigger scale.
The robot is versatile and can be manipulated to fit the customer’s needs, as Ibrahim explained. “We can improve it to whichever situation. If it’s going to be used as a firefighter, we can change its material from wood to carbon fibre. It just depends on what a company will use it for,” he said.
Pinera said some companies approached the team and expressed their approval.
“They think it’s a good design. They said it will help the fire departments with search and rescue and could be used for other governmental uses,” Pinera said.
At table 20, Luke Seldenthuis (left), Patrick Gravel (middle) and Colleen Griffith (right) have worked with CH 4 Biogas, a local Ottawa company that uses manure to produce electricity. Photo credit: Noah Simmons
Over at table eight was the “Martial Arts Training Application and Body Armour” developed by Neil Kingdom, Hussein Abdullahi, Rocco Bahagwandin and Younes Berrada, a team of computer and electrical engineering students.
“Our client owns a martial arts dojo in London, Ont. and they do very hard-hitting karate there, so they wear this body armour for protection while they’re sparring. He wanted a way for his students to be able to measure their progress while they were training, so we put some sensors inside the armour and we created a mobile application that communicates over Bluetooth. It reads how hard you hit the sensors as well as kind of a general area of where you hit,” Kingdom said.
Kingdom and his team spent four months in planning then four months executing.
Abdullahi said the team wants to possibly explore markets in the future.
“It’s a pretty niche market. There’s not a lot of competitors producing body armour like this where you can get info on how hard your hitting and where your hitting,” he said.
There was also a “Cone of Silence” by electrical engineering students Caleb Smith and Adam Cacciotti.
“It’s basically a device that emits ultrasonic waves which disrupts the mic component on a digital device. So, if you’re having a conversation with anyone and let’s say you have an Alexa in the background, it won’t be able to hear your conversation. That way, you won’t have any ads pop up referring to what you were just saying,” Smith explained.
Smith and Cacciotti are trying to achieve a product that will land on the market later on and be accessible to everyone.
“I think it’s a pretty good niche,” Cacciotti said. “Our client is hoping to get a Kickstarter going once we’re done with the design and everything.”
Facilities Management at Algonquin College hosted volunteer-run litter pickups for Earth Week. As the snow melts, the litter hiding underneath is becoming more prominent. With a vision to be a “provincial leader in fostering renewed college environment,” Facilities Management organized a litter pickup for Tuesday and Thursday. Getting students involved on campus is a primary […]
Annika Schlarb
Photos: Annika Schlarb
April 20, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Annika Schlarb
As the snow has started melting, the litter hiding underneath is becoming more prominent. Facilities Management organized litter pickups during Earth Week.
Facilities Management at Algonquin College hosted volunteer-run litter pickups for Earth Week.
As the snow melts, the litter hiding underneath is becoming more prominent.
With a vision to be a “provincial leader in fostering renewed college environment,” Facilities Management organized a litter pickup for Tuesday and Thursday.
Getting students involved on campus is a primary and essential goal for Algonquin.
“I think engaging students and keeping the environment healthy is important for the school,” said Chiedu Okwechime, an international business management student.
Volunteers were provided with all the required equipment for litter picking, including dustpans, gloves, knee pads and garbage bags.
A map highlighted zones where there is high pedestrian traffic and heavy litter deposits, as well as the areas where cigarette butts are normally tossed.
Amanda Barr is the grounds coordinator working under Facilities Management.
“The pickup will be campus-wide, but it will be focusing first on the heavy areas, and then depending on how many volunteers show up that will dictate how far we can spread with it,” she said before the events.
This is the first time a litter pick-up has been organized for Earth Week.
“We are going to try to do a pickup annually so at least every Earth Week and also one every September,” said Barr.
“The school should participate in sustainable actions,” said Nafiso Nahaned, a marketing research student. “Not only does it help with short-term effects but also long-term effects.”
As the coordinator of grounds works, Barr oversees keeping the outdoors in top-tier condition. “I oversee all the trees and inspect all the hardscapes,” she explained. As a team of only two ground workers, Barr said they are hoping to expand.
With new students coming in, Facilities Management wants to remind students that the Algonquin Woodroffe campus is smoke-free. If students smoke, they are reminded not to drop the butts on campus as it is becoming a reoccurring issue.
“Especially on grounds seeing all the cigarette butts around campus toxifying the earth and the air, I’d really like to see the culture change,” said Barr.
When Nikola Mihelcic, Matthew Adams and Eddy Phillips, graduating electrical engineers students, were assigned to help their client by working on their project for months, they quickly realized there was a huge problem. They didn’t know how to program the device. At table one in the Dare District on April 14 at the Re/Action event, […]
Noah Leafloor
Photos: Noah Leafloor
April 20, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Noah Leafloor
Nikola Mihelcic, Matthew Adams and Eddy Phillips are the inventors of Smart Foot Insole. They took part in the Re/Action event on Friday, April 14.
When Nikola Mihelcic, Matthew Adams and Eddy Phillips, graduating electrical engineers students, were assigned to help their client by working on their project for months, they quickly realized there was a huge problem.
They didn’t know how to program the device.
At table one in the Dare District on April 14 at the Re/Action event, the group demonstrated that they’d solved their problem when they presented their fully coded, and working invention called Smart Foot Insoles. The device measures pressure on various points of a person’s foot using force-sensitive resistors.
Their group was just one of many who worked together to build and create technology of the future to show their innovation.
The event, hosted by Matthew Jerabek, associate manager in marketing and systems for the experiential learning & innovation office of Algonquin College, saw a variety of research projects around innovative technology.
The team explained their project to a number of attendees on Friday.
The insoles are to be used in a clinical, orthotic setting to provide information on standing and walking patterns, so your doctor can prescribe you the perfect insole for your shoes.
The process works by diagnosis through walking tests. It accurately looks for the problems in your feet. For example, your arch or heel, and then you are prescribed an insole based on hard-data, instead of mold or visual tests by your doctor.
The Smart Foot Insole team's project table showing the data they collected on the laptop and the insole. Photo credit: Noah Leafloor
Mihelcic, Adams and Phillips were assigned as group members and given the project by their coordinators.
After forming a team, they met their client, Christopher Kraft of Ampos Orthopaedics Inc, to learn about what he wanted to see them make.
Set off to work, they still had to program.
That’s when Adams stepped in and did the programming all by himself.
“Matt hard-carried in the programming and website,” said Mihelcic. “He showed us how it worked.”
Once they finished the project, they showcased the data on the website. Kraft was very happy with what they made.
“We love our client, he’s really nice,” said Phillips.
“We’re super proud of it,” said Mihelcic. “At the end of the day, we’re really happy with what we got and what we made.”
Everyone believed they did a good job with the time they had, and found the experience useful.
“It was a great experience,” said Adams. “It gives a lot of work experience.”
The team have made plans for post-Algonquin with all the valuable knowledge they’ve learned in their program.
“The project was great for building teamwork skills, and I really enjoyed the experience with my group,” said Phillips.
Mihelcic wants to go into the design field after his time here. He would like to improve his automation skills too.
Adams hopes to work in utilities. “I would like to work for something like Hydro One,” Adams said.
Phillips plans to bridge to Lakehead University where he will finish his electrical engineering degree and gain a lot of automation skills.
Spring is now in full bloom, and this time of rejuvenation should also serve as a period of reflection on an exciting and memorable year.
Office of the President
Photos:
April 20, 2023 Revised: April 20, 2023 11:16pm
Spring is now in full bloom, and this time of rejuvenation should also serve as a period of reflection on an exciting and memorable year.
Many students will be searching for or starting a summer job in their field. Others will continue their studies throughout the Spring 2023 semester. There are many students who are looking forward to Convocation and graduation, ready to take on the working world or further academic pursuits as they take the next step in their life journey. No matter how you intend to spend the coming months, know that Algonquin College is here to support you.
While the school year may be winding down for many, the College remains bustling with activity. The RE/ACTION Showcase took place on April 14, giving many talented and innovative learners from across the College a platform to show off a variety of excellent applied research projects. The College’s Earth Week saw students come together and show love to the planet by volunteering to clean up around AC’s Ottawa Campus. The Spring 2023 semester will officially kick off on May 8 with AC Day 1, which will include program orientations for new learners and various support and social activities to help prepare students for a successful and exciting term.
Spring 2023 learners have a few dates to keep in mind while they begin their warm weather studies: Bursary Applications can be submitted until May 23, the mid-term break will take place from June 26-30 and Final Assessment Week will be Aug. 12-19 for most programs. Additionally, the College’s Student Support Services will remain available to aid learners throughout the spring, offering various supports for academic success, new students, mental healthand Indigenous learners, among others.
For continuing learners who aren’t studying throughout the spring semester, there are a number of AC resources available to help you find great summer employment and get some on-the-job education. HireAC hosts job postings from Ottawa, Pembroke, Perth and beyond, offering plenty of options for students from around the country.
These summer postings span a wide range, with employers seeking to fill roles like farmhands, automotive technicians, early childhood educators, finance clerks, dental assistants, pastry chefs, IT workers and many, many more. Additional career assistance — including resume and cover letter refinement, practice job interviews, LinkedIn optimization and workshops and recruiting events — can be found by booking an appointment with the Employment Support Centre.
Finally, for our soon-to-be graduates who have finished their studies and are preparing for a prosperous future, we look forward to the upcoming 2023 Spring Convocation. Held this year on June 7 for the Perth Campus, June 9 for the Pembroke Campus and June 20-22 for the Ottawa and AC Online Campuses, Convocation always serves as both a touching reflection on academic accomplishment and a joyful send-off for thousands of new Algonquin College alumni.
To those of you who will soon walk across the stage and receive your diploma, advanced diploma, certificate, graduate certificate or degree, I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations and upmost gratitude for allowing Algonquin College to be a part of your life journey. I hope that you will look back on your AC experience with pride, and that you continue to embody the College’s values of caring, learning, integrity and respect in your post-graduation life.
No matter how you plan to spend the warmer months, make sure that you squeeze in time for rest, relaxation, fun and excitement. I hope you look back on the year’s accomplishments with pride, and that your next step in life — whatever it may be — brings you fulfillment and happiness.
The Banshees of Inisherin is a pitch-perfect black comedy directed by Martin McDonagh, and it tells the story of Pádraic and Colm, two best friends who live on a small Irish island. One day, Colm decides to ghost Pádraic, cutting him out of his life completely, which leads to a series of comedic and tragic […]
Akansha Suri
Photos:
April 20, 2023 Revised: April 20, 2023 12:41pm
The Banshees of Inisherin is a pitch-perfect black comedy directed by Martin McDonagh, and it tells the story of Pádraic and Colm, two best friends who live on a small Irish island. One day, Colm decides to ghost Pádraic, cutting him out of his life completely, which leads to a series of comedic and tragic events.
The characters are well-developed, and the performances by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are outstanding. The film was shot on the remote Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland, providing a beautiful but challenging backdrop for the cinematographer, Ole Bratt Birkeland, with a unique visual style that captured the juxtaposition of the island’s beauty and isolation.
McDonagh masterfully balances humour and pathos, creating a film that will make you laugh and break your heart at the same time. If you enjoy dark comedies that are both hilarious and poignant, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is a must-see. Go visit our Instagram for more.
Algonquin College students gathered for an Esports gaming event on March 20 organized by the Algonquin Students’ Association and We Got Game. The event featured a variety of games such as FIFA 23, NBA 2k23 and Just Dance. Students competed against each other, with the chance to qualify to participate in an online tournament and […]
Sahlym Florestal
Photos: Sahlym Florestal
April 19, 2023 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:36pm
Photo: Sahlym Florestal
Twin sisters Shelina Syed (left) and Shameen Syed (right) enjoyed themselves at the Esports event.
Algonquin College students gathered for an Esports gaming event on March 20 organized by the Algonquin Students’ Association and We Got Game.
The event featured a variety of games such as FIFA 23, NBA 2k23 and Just Dance. Students competed against each other, with the chance to qualify to participate in an online tournament and the chance to win over $1000 in prizes.
The event was open to all Algonquin College students and offered a break from the daily grind of schoolwork. Students were able to interact with each other and enjoy the fun games.
Shelina Syed, a third-year bachelor of early learning and community development student, stumbled upon the dancing booth and was delighted to find Just Dance. “I’ve been dancing for 10 minutes. It’s fun and a nice break from school,” she said.
Meanwhile, Shameen Syed, a second-year interior decorating student, found out about the event through Instagram and was encouraged by her sister to join in. “My twin sister told me to get over here; they have a fun setup,” Shameen said. “It’s fun.”
The event was organized by Dave Miller, owner of We Got Game, who said the focus was on entertaining students and watching the smiles on their faces.
“This event is about gathering with the students, watching the smile on students’ faces interacting with each other and making new friends,” Miller said.
A first-year business administration accounting student, Ryan Georges, participated in the NBA 2k23 tournament and was pleased with his third-place finish.
“Going into the tournament, I was confident that I would win,” Georges said. “I played some good players and came out third with one loss. It was a great event.”
